Build a Precise DIY Measuring Wheel with Arduino Nano & Rotary Encoder

Necessary tools and machines

Soldering iron (generic)

Apps and online services

Arduino IDE

About this project

A measuring wheel is a construction measuring tool. The wheel rotates and, using basic rotational kinematics (s=rθ), you can determine the distance between two points.

The video below shows a reduced functional model of such a device made with several components:

- Arduino Nano

- Rotary encoder

- 16x2 LCD display

- 10k pot.

- 220 ohm resistor

The operating principle is as follows:

The rotary encoder measures the number of the rotation but we have to convert the rotation into travelled distance. Travelled distance depends on the diameter of the wheel. Rotary encoder moves N steps in one complete rotation (360 degree). Steps per rotation depends on the rotary encoder which can be changed from 8 to 48. Suppose N is the steps per rotation and R is the radius of wheel.

Travelled distance in one Rotation is = 2xπxR

Travelled distance in one Step is = 2xπxR/N

I wrote a very simple code for this purpose and the traveled distance is displayed on the LCD screen in centimeters. Depending on the components used in the code we change the values of "N" and "R".

In my case the wheel is made on a 3D printer and the whole assembly is mounted on an aluminum rod, as seen in the video.

Code

• Code

CodeC/C++

/*   Measurning Whell
 *
 *  by Mirko Pavleski,
 *
 *   https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHLzc76TZel_vCTy0Znvqyw  
 */

#include <LiquidCrystal.h>

LiquidCrystal lcd(5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10);

int pin1 = 2;
int pin2 = 3;

int Pos = 0; 
int State;
int LastState;  

const float pi = 3.14;

const float R = 3.25;
const int N = 40;

float distance = 0;

void setup() { 
  pinMode (pin1 ,INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode (pin2 ,INPUT_PULLUP);

  lcd.begin(16, 2);
  lcd.print("MEASURNING WHEEL");
  
  LastState = digitalRead(pin1);    
} 

void loop() { 
  State = digitalRead(pin1);
   if (State != LastState){     
     if (digitalRead(pin2) != State) { 
       Pos ++;
     } 
     
     else {
       Pos --;
     }
   } 

  distance = ((2*pi*R)/N) * Pos ;

  lcd.setCursor(0, 1);
  lcd.print( distance);

  lcd.setCursor(5, 1);
  lcd.print("cm  ");
   
  LastState = State;
 }

Schematics